as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
More than 70,000 people died in the Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza, which also razed the Palestinian territory to the ground, leaving most of its two million strong population living in tents and without regular food supplies.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Later on Sunday, the IDF announced the resumption of the ceasefire, following retaliatory strikes.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Scientists realized that the Netherlands—the site of a 1944 railroad strike in support of the Allies, followed by a retaliatory Nazi blockade on food—had kept meticulous records of a subsequent famine, the Dutch Hunger Winter.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
And retaliatory actions by other countries, such as China’s threat to withhold supplies of rare-earth elements, could have quite serious effects.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
Following allegations of bullying and retaliatory action against staff, Oakley had initiated an independent third-party investigation into the accusations.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The question is whether China’s new export restrictions are simply retaliatory or represent a tectonic shift in trade policy.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges retaliation, retaliatory harassment, a hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Paul Egan, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, which represents workers at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, said the HHS fired more than 1,300 CDC federal employees during the government shutdown, citing retaliatory reasons for their removal.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2025
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Later on Sunday, the IDF announced the resumption of the ceasefire, following retaliatory strikes.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
Scientists realized that the Netherlands—the site of a 1944 railroad strike in support of the Allies, followed by a retaliatory Nazi blockade on food—had kept meticulous records of a subsequent famine, the Dutch Hunger Winter.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
And retaliatory actions by other countries, such as China’s threat to withhold supplies of rare-earth elements, could have quite serious effects.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
Following allegations of bullying and retaliatory action against staff, Oakley had initiated an independent third-party investigation into the accusations.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The question is whether China’s new export restrictions are simply retaliatory or represent a tectonic shift in trade policy.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges retaliation, retaliatory harassment, a hostile work environment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Paul Egan, Freep.com, 15 Oct. 2025
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, which represents workers at the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, said the HHS fired more than 1,300 CDC federal employees during the government shutdown, citing retaliatory reasons for their removal.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliatory
Adjective
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Fans hoping for a revengeful scoring outburst were left wanting a little more, however, as Dončić — a career 28.6 points per game scorer — added only 10 points over the final three quarters.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC News,
26 Feb. 2025
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Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The incident, as well as post-ceasefire clashes between Israeli forces and Gazans and retributive executions by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, underscores the fragility of Trump's historic deal, which is still only in its initial phase.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s retributive demands against Serbia led Russia, a Serbian ally, to mobilize its forces, which in turn provoked Germany to build up troops against Russia and England, another Russian ally.—
JOEL WUTHNOW,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His legal team condemned the plan as unconstitutional and punitive, warning that without assurances from Liberia, Abrego Garcia could be sent back to El Salvador.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Professional development for teachers focuses on positive, rather than punitive, behavioral and engagement practices.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Sherrill's campaign later contested that the disciplinary file had been sealed and not subject to public disclosure.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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The university and Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen later declined to pursue disciplinary or criminal charges against the student journalist.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
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Hollfelder had been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 1½ years in prison and two years on extended supevision.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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